Tallapoosa River

Alabama Power Company says water levels at its lakes are low because of the drought, and things might get worse.

The utility says it has reduced water releases for power generation, and it has suspended recreational water releases on Lake Jordan because of the drought.

The company says water levels are falling at Weiss, Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes on the Coosa River; Harris and Martin lakes on the Tallapoosa River; and Smith Lake on the Black Warrior River. Lake levels eventually could go below normal winter stages because of the lack of rain.

Lawyers for House Speaker Mike Hubbard are now asking prosecutors to disclose any conversations they had with legislators. They are also looking for conversations with members of the executive branch about the case.

Defense lawyers filed a discovery motion Wednesday asking a judge to force prosecutors to disclose any calls with legislators or executive branch members. They also asked for any copies of conversations that might have been recorded.

The executive director of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, Jim Felder, says the new segment is the Alabama portion of the Tallapoosa River. He says the new segment includes 13 primitive campsites donated by Alabama Power and four portages allowing people to walk canoes or kayaks around the four Alabama Power dams on the river.

An experienced paddler, 66-year-old Harold Banks of Dadeville, says the Tallapoosa River offers views of bald eagles, deer, turkey and otters in abundance.